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You’re finally ready to visit that dream destination, only to discover it’s vanished. It’s time to reconnect with our global heritage before some of the most awe-inspiring places to see fade into history
From the shores of the Mediterranean to the depths of the Pacific, climate change, human encroachment, and natural processes are conspiring against some of Earth’s most spectacular sites.
As children of Africa scattered across the globe, we bring a distinctive lens to the preservation of cultural and natural wonders. Let’s dive into these endangered places to see why they should top our travel lists.
Natural Wonders on Life Support
The Great Barrier Reef
This 2,300 km long underwater ecosystem off Australia’s coast is dying at an alarming rate. Since 2023 over 54% of its coral has been bleached due to rising sea temperatures. The vibrant oranges, purples, and greens of healthy coral are giving way to ghostly white skeletons.
As Africans, we understand the value of rich ecosystems. Witnessing the reef’s struggle could inspire us to champion marine protected areas in our ancestral waters, from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Guinea.
Amazon Rainforest
Often dubbed the “lungs of the Earth,” this vast 5.5 million square kilometer jungle loses an area the size of a football field every minute to deforestation. Its potential loss would be catastrophic, releasing billions of tons of stored carbon.
Many African countries, like the Democratic Republic of Congo, face similar deforestation challenges. Visiting the Amazon could offer insights into sustainable forestry practices applicable from the Congo Basin to Madagascar.
Antarctic Peninsula
This icy frontier is warming faster than almost anywhere else on Earth. Since 1986, average temperatures have risen by 0.06°C. The resulting glacier melt contributes significantly to rising sea levels.
For coastal African nations from Senegal to Mozambique, this is a critical issue. Seeing massive icebergs calve into the Southern Ocean could galvanize us to push for climate action in our communities worldwide.
Cultural Heritage Under Siege
Machu Picchu
This 15th-century Incan citadel in Peru faces a daily assault from the feet of nearly 6,000 visitors. The site’s original capacity was only 500 people per day. Erosion of the ancient stone structures is accelerating, with some areas already off-limits to tourists.
As diasporans, we can appreciate the importance of preserving ancestral sites. Machu Picchu’s plight mirrors challenges faced by African wonders like the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia.
Venice
The “Floating City” is sinking at a rate of 1-2 mm per year while sea levels rise. Over 60% of the city now floods annually. Its unique architecture and 177 canals are at risk of becoming a modern Atlantis.
Many coastal African cities, from Alexandria to Lagos, face similar threats. Visiting Venice could inspire innovative flood management solutions for our vulnerable urban areas.
Petra
This ancient Nabataean city in Jordan, with its famous 45-meter-high Al-Khazneh treasury, is eroding due to wind, rain, and salt crystallization. Footfall from over a million annual visitors accelerates the damage.
For Africans in the diaspora, it’s a reminder of the architectural marvels in our history, like the sunken obelisks of Axum in Ethiopia or the mud mosques of Mali.
Endangered Species Sanctuaries
African Savanna
Home to iconic wildlife, the savanna is shrinking annually due to human encroachment and climate change. The lion population has dropped by 43% in just two decades.
For diasporans, it’s a chance to reconnect with our continent’s natural heritage and support conservation efforts that benefit local communities.
Arctic Tundra
This frigid ecosystem is warming twice as fast as the global average. Permafrost that has been frozen for millennia is thawing, releasing methane, and transforming the landscape. While far from Africa, its fate is linked to global climate patterns that affect us all, from the Sahel to the Cape.
Borneo Rainforest
This ancient forest, home to 54 endemic mammal species, loses an area the size of three football fields every minute to deforestation. Orangutan populations have plummeted by 60% since 1950.
As Africans, we can relate to the challenge of balancing development with conservation, a struggle playing out from the Niger Delta to the Virunga Mountains.
Remote and Unspoiled Destinations
Galapagos Islands
These isolated Ecuadorian islands, which inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution, face threats from invasive species and a 250% increase in tourism since 2007.
Their unique wildlife, like the Galapagos tortoise, offers lessons in adaptation that resonate with the African diaspora’s experience of resilience in new environments.
Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
Famous for its 887 moai statues, this remote Pacific island struggles with erosion and waste management. With only 5,000 residents, it receives 100,000 visitors annually, straining its fragile ecosystem.
Its story of resource depletion is a cautionary tale for island nations in Africa and beyond, from Cabo Verde to the Seychelles.
Madagascar
This island nation off Africa’s east coast has incredible biodiversity, with 90% of its wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Yet it loses 1-2% of its primary rainforest annually.
For diasporans, it’s a chance to explore a unique part of African natural history and support conservation efforts that benefit both wildlife and local communities.
Conclusion: Places to See Before They Vanish Forever
These places to see are more than Instagram backdrops. They’re living laboratories, ecological treasures, and windows into our planet’s past and future. As Africans in the diaspora, we have a unique stake in their preservation and the stories they tell.
Visiting these endangered places to see responsibly can raise awareness and support conservation efforts. It can also inspire us to protect vulnerable sites in our ancestral homelands and current communities, from the rock art of the Sahara to the coral reefs of the Indian Ocean.
The clock is ticking. By experiencing these wonders now, we become their ambassadors. We can share their stories and significance across our global networks, bridging continents and cultures.
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This guide will arm you with insider knowledge to navigate the Great White North like a seasoned local